Natsu Summer "Think of Summer" (7")
Natsu Summer (Facebook, Instagram) has released just recently a new 7", of her latest song "Think of Summer". The city pop reggae song was written and arranged by her main producer Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryusenkei). First released digitally last October,...
Posted on February 11, 2024 at 23:53. | Released on January 24, 2024
City Pop on Vinyl 2023
City Pop on Vinyl is being held for the 4th time, on August 5, 2023. There are many exciting releases this time again, and below are some recommendations to Tokyo's Coolest Sound's readers. There's also a lot more to find...
Posted on August 5, 2023 at 23:05. | Released on August 5, 2023
Five II Four "tanabata no yoru, kimi ni aitai feat. Natsu Summer" (7"/Download)
Five II Four is a new unit formed of DJs Eitetsu Takamiya (previously known as Little Big Bee) and CHINTAM (Twitter), and here comes their debut release with a cover of Chappie's classic song "tanabata no yoru, kimi ni...
Posted on June 23, 2023 at 21:33. | Released on May 24, 2023
Paper Moon Project "City Pop Avenue"
Paper Moon Project is a city pop cover project supervised by Toshi Kanazawa (of the Light Mellow blog and releases). The first release is a cover album of all new recordings featuring 8 female vocalists: Monari Wakita, Natsu Summer (Facebook,...
Posted on June 22, 2023 at 12:42. | Released on June 21, 2023
Funkindustry & Natsu Summer "Loneliness" (Download)
French funk band Funkindustry (Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp) has just released digitally a collaboration song with Natsu Summer (Facebook, Instagram), titled "Loneliness" and sung in both English and Japanese! Check out the music video below. The track is part of...
Posted on April 3, 2023 at 22:44. | Released on March 31, 2023
Natsu Summer & Ryusenkei "Sun Kissed Lady" (Cassette)
Natsu Summer & Ryusenkei's album "Sun Kissed Lady" released on CD and digitally last July (, Spotify, YouTube Music), has just also been released in a cassette tape edition. An exclusive bonus track is included: "Twiliight Shadow ~1st Take Love...
Posted on December 30, 2022 at 22:56. | Released on December 21, 2022
Record Day 2022 Day 1
Record Day is being held this year again, on November 3 (coinciding with public holiday Culture Day) and also on December 3. Below are some picks that are not to be missed from the November 3 crates, but there's also...
Posted on November 6, 2022 at 12:11. | Released on November 3, 2022
Natsu Summer & Ryusenkei "Sun Kissed Lady"
Reggae-touch city pop singer Natsu Summer released a brand new album titled "Sun Kissed Lady", this time fully backed by band Ryusenkei which is led by Cunimondo Takiguchi. A cover of "nagisa no Unlucky Boys" is included, a song originally...
Posted on July 16, 2022 at 22:38. | Released on July 6, 2022
Ryusenkei "two silhouette feat. Horigome Yasuyuki" (Download)
Ryusenkei, the project of Cunimondo Takiguchi, is doing a series of digital releases of brand new songs. Following last month's "route no.3 shibuya" (, Spotify, YouTube Music) (a Ryusenkei self-cover), here comes a 2nd song titled "two silhouette" (in...
Posted on March 26, 2022 at 10:25. | Released on March 25, 2022
Record Day 2021 Day 2
Record Day, previously happening only on November 3 for "Culture Day" (a public holiday), has being held once more this November, on Saturday November 27. Also check out the post about day 1! Items can be ordered online. Below is...
Posted on December 4, 2021 at 00:54. | Released on November 27, 2021
City Pop on Vinyl 2021
"City Pop on Vinyl" is a campaign organized by Japan's famous record press Toyo Kasei, and this is the 2nd year it takes place (see City Pop on Vinyl 2020). Below is a selection of some titles not to be...
Posted on August 28, 2021 at 00:58. | Released on August 28, 2021
Natsu Summer "Hayama Nights" (12")
Natsu Summer's latest album, "Hayama Nights" (2020), is getting a vinyl release! Produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei), the album features collaborations with Kobayashi "Mimi" Izumi and Saigenji. Covers of Ryusenkei's "3gōsen" (aka "Route No.3 Shibuya") and Miyazawa Rie's "kokoro kara...
Posted on March 15, 2021 at 23:06. | Released on March 17, 2021
Natsu Summer "ano koro, Poolside de / kokoro kara suki" (7")
Natsu Summer has a new 7" about to be released, of two songs from latest album "Hayama Nights"! A-side "ano koro, Poolside de" is a collaboration with Saigenji, and the B-side is a cover of Miyazawa Rie. Natsu Summer...
Posted on October 20, 2020 at 23:09. | Released on October 21, 2020
Natsu Summer "Hayama Nights"
Reggae-touch city pop singer Natsu Summer has a brand new album about to be released! Like her previous mini-album "Natsu Summer & Dub Sensation", it is produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei). The album features collaborations with Kobayashi Izumi (Mimi of...
Posted on August 4, 2020 at 00:55. | Released on August 5, 2020
Record Day 2019
Record Day 2019, an initiative of Japan's long-running record factory Tōyōkasei, is being held this Sunday November 3rd (the same day as Japan's "Culture Day" national holiday). Items are available in stores and online from that date. Below is a...
Posted on November 3, 2019 at 01:12. | Released on November 3, 2019
Natsu Summer "Time Distance (toki no Silhouette)" (7")
Reggae-touch city pop singer Natsu Summer has a brand new single out now! Again produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi, it is backed by a full band like her excellent previous mini-album "Natsu Summer & Dub Sensation" (2018). Natsu Summer will...
Posted on July 20, 2019 at 11:18. | Released on July 17, 2019
Natsu Summer "Old School Surfer" (7")
This is a 7" single cut from Natsu Summer's latest mini-album "Natsu Summer & Dub Sensation" that was produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei) and backed by a real band with drums and bass, organ, steel pan, etc. The B-side...
Posted on August 13, 2018 at 21:53. | Released on August 18, 2018
Natsu Summer "Natsu Summer & Dub Sensation"
City pop singer Natsu Summer has released earlier this month a new mini-album! Like her first album "Hello, future day" this is produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei), though this time the whole is backed by a real band with drums...
Posted on July 16, 2018 at 12:46. | Released on July 4, 2018
Natsu Summer "Hello, future day"
After the release of a few EPs, tropical city pop female singer Natsu Summer has a first full-length album being released. The producer is Cunimondo Takiguchi (of Ryūsenkei, who also produced hitomitoi's "City Dive" album). Check out the clip below...
Posted on July 2, 2017 at 22:33. | Released on July 5, 2017
Various Artists "manatsu no Innocence ~ Urino Masao Works Covers"
This is a cover album of songs by lyricist Urino Masao whose career amounts to 35 years. These are all new arrangements of some of his most known works, here sung by many vocalists such as hitomitoi, Mizuno Mari (paris...
Posted on February 24, 2017 at 00:04. | Released on February 22, 2017
Full-text search results for Natsu Summer
Haruna Yusa "Liquid Of Summer" (Download)
Keyboardist and singer Haruna Yusa (Twitter, Instagram) (a member of bands Kowarekake no Tape Recorders and Have a Nice Day!) has released a new solo single in which she covers the song "Liquid" originally by her labelmates Strip Joint....
Posted on July 29, 2023 at 00:02. | Released on July 20, 2023
Tomoyuki Tanaka (FPM) "Soundtracks for Ice Cream Fever"
Tomoyuki Tanaka a.k.a. FPM has done the soundtrack for the movie "Ice Cream Fever" (directed by Tetsuya Chihara). The soundtrack is available on CD and digitally. The movie features Utaha (Wednesday Campanella) as an ice cream shop worker, and also...
Posted on July 22, 2023 at 21:06. | Released on July 12, 2023
Ryusenkei "incomplete feat. Yasuyuki Horigome"
Ryusenkei, the project of Cunimondo Takiguchi, has released last month a mini-album featuring Yasuyuki Horigome (ex-Kirinji). Included are four vocal songs that were released in advance digitally, plus an unreleased piece titled "incomplete". It had been 16 years since the...
Posted on September 17, 2022 at 23:54. | Released on August 17, 2022
Jintana & Emeralds "Emerald City Guide" (12"), "Destiny" (12")
Neo doo-wop group Jintana & Emeralds's first two albums, "Destiny" (2014, , Spotify) and "Emerald City Guide" (2021, , Spotify), have just been released on vinyl! "Destiny" had been pressed on vinyl once in 2014 but quickly sold out, this...
Posted on June 2, 2022 at 22:43. | Released on June 2, 2022
Ryusenkei "melody feat. Yasuyuki Horigome" (Download)
Ryusenkei, the project of Cunimondo Takiguchi, is continuing to drop digital releases of brand new songs. "melody" is the 3rd featuring Yasuyuki Horigome (ex-Kirinji) who had also appeared on the "Talio" soundtrack. This follows "two silhouette" (, Spotify, YouTube...
Posted on May 2, 2022 at 23:28. | Released on April 29, 2022
Ryusenkei "route no.3 shibuya feat. Yasuyuki Horigome" (Download)
Ryusenkei, the project of Cunimondo Takiguchi, is starting a series of digital releases of brand new songs. "Route No.3" (in Japanese "3gōsen") is a self-cover of a song that first appeared on Ryūsenkei's 2003 album "City Music" (, Spotify),...
Posted on February 26, 2022 at 21:13. | Released on February 25, 2022
Record Day 2021 Day 1
Record Day, previously happening only on November 3 for "Culture Day" (a public holiday), is being held on two separate days in 2021: November 3 and 27. Items can be ordered online without any delay. Below is a list of...
Posted on November 3, 2021 at 00:44. | Released on November 3, 2021
Jintana & Emeralds "Emerald City Guide"
Neo-doo-wop group Jintana & Emeralds is releasing a long-awaited 2nd full-length album! It has been over 7 years since debut album "Destiny" (2014, , Spotify). This time the album has a concept of a trip to the imaginary Emerald City,...
Posted on September 12, 2021 at 22:41. | Released on September 15, 2021
suzuki mamiko (chelmico) "ms", chelmico "POWER" (12"), "Fishing" (12"), "maze" (12"), "COZY" (12")
This week came a massive drop of chelmico! First is a solo album by member Suzuki Mamiko, her first full-length, titled "ms". The song "jam" features singer-songwriter iri. The limited edition comes with a bonus DVD of a band-backed live...
Posted on August 19, 2021 at 21:35. | Released on August 18, 2021
Kaede "Youth - Original Soundtrack"
Kaede (Negicco) has just released a new concept album, the soundtrack of an imaginary movie titled "Youth". The album's producer is Satō Yūsuke (caméra-stylo) who often accompanies Kaede on piano in her shows. One song also has lyrics written by...
Posted on June 15, 2021 at 21:16. | Released on June 15, 2021
Aya Nakano y Central "La Vida"
Once again, singer Nakano Aya has teamed up with latin sound band Central, this time as Aya Nakano y Central, for a brand new album titled "La Vida"! Along with a bunch of originals is included a cover of Yuming's...
Posted on January 29, 2021 at 21:27. | Released on January 27, 2021
Posted on November 12, 2020 at 22:48. | Event held on Friday November 20, 2020 at 19:00 (JST)
Various Artists "City Music Tokyo invitation"
Cunimondo Takiguchi, the leader of city pop band Ryusenkei (and also known as the producer of albums by hitomitoi and Natsu Summer), has selected this compilation of songs that have influenced him. While some are famous songs, others are rare...
Posted on November 8, 2020 at 21:48. | Released on November 4, 2020
Record Day 2020
Record Day 2020, ran by Japan's long-running record factory Tōyōkasei, is just about to happen this November 3rd. Being on the same day as Japan's "Culture Day", it's a day off well spent doing record shopping. Record Day items are...
Posted on November 3, 2020 at 01:59. | Released on November 3, 2020
Interview: Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi
Original interview text by Takashi Ikegami Translated from Japanese by Patrick Benny (Tokyo's Coolest Sound) Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi (below "Mimi") is an interesting artist from actually many perspectives. First, there is the one where she expresses original works as the...
Posted on November 2, 2020 at 00:25.
Haruko Tajima "Still Summer" (Download)
New wave gyaru Haruko Tajima, known for her self-produced tracks and music videos, has just suddenly dropped a brand new song titled "Still Summer"! It's now available on streaming platforms. Also check out the video below! Haruko Tajima "Still...
Posted on September 11, 2020 at 20:45. | Released on September 10, 2020
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.7
This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada), it brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these...
Posted on July 22, 2020 at 23:35.
VIDEOTAPEMUSIC "The Secret Life Of VIDEOTAPEMUSIC"
VIDEOTAPEMUSIC has a new 4th album coming this week, most of which is vocal! A large number of collaborators are featured including vocalists Yokoyama Ken (Crazy Ken Band), Takagi Shōhei (cero), Robochū, mmm, etc., and musicians such as Emerson Kitamura,...
Posted on July 22, 2019 at 23:04. | Released on July 24, 2019
Denki Groove "30"
Denki Groove will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year! So here comes a new album called "30" which includes remakes of songs such as remakes of hit songs "Shangri-La", "Fujisan" and "Flashback Disco", as well as two anniversary songs,...
Posted on January 3, 2019 at 15:59. | Released on January 23, 2019
Gig report: Adieu, Vanilla Beans!: Retrospective & last gig reports
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound They came carried by winds from Northern Europe, where they returned to last October 7 (2018). So goes the setting of Vanilla Beans, a unique idol group that had debuted...
Posted on December 31, 2018 at 22:03.
Nomiya Maki "Shibuya-kei Songbook" (2 CDs), "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji c/w Happy Sad" (7")
This new album by Nomiya Maki comes with 2 discs. The first is a collection of songs from her recent albums of the "Shibuya-kei Standards" series (released from 2014 through 2017), and the 2nd is of a previously unreleased entire...
Posted on October 20, 2018 at 21:26. | Released on October 31, 2018
Kaji Hideki "Autumn Olive"
Kaji Hideki has a brand new EP being released just ahead of fall. The EP's two lead songs take their theme from fashion magazine Olive (published from 1982 to 2003). Both of these songs were produced by Horie Hirohisa (Neil...
Posted on August 19, 2018 at 13:23. | Released on September 5, 2018
Nomiya Maki "Nomiya Maki, Vacances Shibuya-kei o utau." (7"x2)
From the album of the same name released in May, here's a set of two 7"'s containing four summer-themed Shibuya-kei related covers sung by Nomiya Maki. The two records come packaged in a gatefold jacket, designed and photographed by art...
Posted on August 13, 2017 at 09:37. | Released on August 30, 2017
Fujin Club "tabi to Ferry"
Fujin Club, the mysterious pop unit formed of housewives from island Sadogashima in Niigata pref., is back with a new single of a city pop summer tune with a title that translates to "Travel & Ferry"! Once again produced by...
Posted on June 13, 2017 at 21:15. | Released on June 14, 2017
Nomiya Maki "Nomiya Maki, Vacances Shibuya-kei o utau. ~Wonderful Summer~"
Of her "Shibuya-kei standards" series, Nomiya Maki brings us a new album of summer & vacation-themed covers of Shibuya-kei songs, or ones that inspired the scene's artists. Included are songs originally by Watanabe Marina (written by Ozawa Kenji & Oyamada...
Posted on April 20, 2017 at 21:46. | Released on May 3, 2017
hitomitoi "Pacific High / Aleutian Low"
hitomitoi has a new mini-album out this week! With a title that refers to summer and winter, it contains three summer songs previously released digitally, then three new winter-themed songs, plus a cover of Yuming's "A Happy New Year". Producers...
Posted on December 9, 2014 at 20:32. | Released on December 10, 2014
hitomitoi "toki o tomete koi ga odoru" (Download)
hitomitoi's 3rd summer single is a track produced by Dorian! Lyrics were written by hitomitoi. This is out now exclusively on iTunes Japan. If you haven't yet, also check out the previous "Glass no Summer Holiday" and "natsu kōsen, kira."....
Posted on August 27, 2014 at 21:41. | Released on August 27, 2014
hitomitoi "natsu kōsen, kira." (Download)
Here's the 2nd of a trilogy of summer singles by hitomitoi, now available on iTunes Japan (not worldwide this time). This new urban track was produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei) who produced her album "City Dive" as well as many...
Posted on August 14, 2014 at 19:19. | Released on August 13, 2014
Various Artists "T-Palette Records 2nd Anniversary Mix ~Diggin' on you~"
This is a mix CD by hip-hop unit Cypress Ueno and Roberto Yoshino made of only tracks from Tower Records' idol-only T-Palette label. Included are songs by Vanilla Beans, Negicco, lyrical school, Rhymeberry, LinQ, Shizukaze & Kizuna and Up Up...
Posted on July 27, 2013 at 17:42. | Released on July 17, 2013
Panda 1/2 "natsu o buttobase ~Wild Summer 2012~" (Download)
Neo-Shibuya-kei unit Panda 1/2 has another fun release out just now, on iTunes only again. There's not only a brand new pop'n'roll summer song, but also a Plus-Tech Squeeze Box remix of "chūkagai ukiuki dori"! Panda 1/2 "natsu o buttobase...
Posted on August 24, 2011 at 00:19. | Released on August 24, 2011
Rhymester "Flashback, natsu."
Hip-hop unit Rhymester has a new mini-album that comes as a collection of summer-themed tracks. Included are collaborations with Crazy Ken Band's guitarist Onose Masao and pianist singer-songwriter Sakai Yū (the latter who appeared on compilation "utau Piano danshi"), and...
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 00:59. | Released on July 27, 2011
Yasuda Toshiyuki "Children's Songs 2050"
In his new album, Yasuda Toshiyuki (MySpace) (early Fantastic Plastic Machine) covers children's songs from around the world into his wonderful electronic sounds, featuring various singers including ROBO*BRAZILEIRA of course. Yasuda Toshiyuki "Children's Songs 2050" 1. Ah! Vous dirai-je, maman...
Posted on November 18, 2009 at 23:23. | Released on November 25, 2009
Wada Akiko "World Standard Wada Akiko -A Tatsuo Sunaga Live Mix-"
Top club-jazz DJ Sunaga Tatsuo mixes Wada Akiko songs in his World Standard non-stop live mix fashion. A must! Released at the same time as collaboration album "Wada ke" featuring Konishi Yasuharu, Crazy Ken Band and Reggae Disco Rockers. Wada...
Posted on March 18, 2008 at 16:33. | Released on April 23, 2008
Various Artists "mōshiwake nai to From Akasaka Urban Mix" / "Idol Mix"
Regular club party Mōshiwake Night's DJ team has put together these two mix CDs, under "Urban" and "Idol" themes, totaling 100 songs! Each CD features two DJs selecting a dozen tracks in turn. Those selectors are DJ Mitsy, Uta Maru...
Posted on March 10, 2008 at 17:21. | Released on April 16, 2008
Ayuse Kozue "Sundae Love / summer time ~natsu no okurimono~"
Dance music scene singer-songwriter Ayuse Kozue has a 5th single coming up. The title track is a summer dance tune produced Towa Tei and featuring Scha Dara Parr's Bose! The B-side is a song completely written/produced/arranged/programmed by Kozue herself. Ayuse...
Posted on June 6, 2007 at 18:09. | Released on August 8, 2007
Various Artists "SAG VOYAGE 2006 : summer Archive - Compiled by Kaoru Inoue"
Inoue Kaoru (Chari Chari) selects tracks by artists on and about his label Seeds and Ground, a sub-label of Crue-L Records started in 2003. Most if not all seems previously unreleased. Various Artists "SAG VOYAGE 2006 : summer Archive -...
Posted on September 25, 2006 at 17:20. | Released on October 25, 2006
Asia Engineer "Jun-natsu" (CD+DVD)
Asia Engineer's upcoming summer-themed album will include songs featuring Halfby, Sugiurumn, and a remix of Konishi Yasuharu-produced "Tokyo 7" (the original previously released as a maxi single). A bonus DVD will include 8 video-remixed songs from live shows at Zepp...
Posted on June 19, 2006 at 11:07. | Released on July 19, 2006
Various Artists "Yellow Magic kayōkyoku" & "Techno Magic kayōkyoku"
Two interesting compilations of 80's techno-pop/kayō, certainly containing a lot of gems, will be released in February at a relatively low price. The first compilation has 3 CDs and consists of only songs written/produced by Yellow Magic Orchestra members (Sakamoto...
Posted on December 7, 2004 at 17:54. | Released on February 23, 2005
bajweb.png)
